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Georgia’s Declarations to the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Unofficial translation by the European Centre for Minority Issues, Regional Office, Georgia

Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia

On the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection ofNational Minorities

The Parliament of Georgia resolves:

1. To ratify the Strasbourg Framework Convention for the Protection ofNational Minorities of 1 February 1995.

2. To take into account, with the ratification of the FrameworkConvention for the Protection of National Minorities (further "theConvention") the following:

a) Georgia bases the interpretation of the term "national minorities" onthe below mentioned criteria and considers that the status of "nationalminority" can only be conferred to a group of individuals in casemembers of the group:

- are Georgian citizens;- differ from the dominant part of the population in terms of language,culture and ethnic identity;- have been living on the Georgian territory for a long time;- live in compact settlements on the Georgian territory;

b) In conformity with article 10 of the Convention, Georgia assumes theobligation to guarantee to persons belonging to a national minority theassistance of a translator in relations with administrative organs andin legal proceedings, thereby enabling them to enjoy the right to usethe minority language as granted to them by the above mentioned article.Georgia also assumes the obligation to create, as far as possible, theconditions enabling persons belonging to national minorities to learnthe State language;

c) In conformity with article 11.1 of the Convention, the obligation towrite, in official documents, first names and surnames of personsbelonging to national minorities in Georgian language in a way thatrespects, as far as possible, their pronunciation in the minoritylanguage is established by internal legislation;

d) In conformity with article 11.3 of the Convention, situationsconcerning the use of street names and other topographical indicationsin Georgian and in minority languages in regions traditionally inhabitedby a significant number of representatives of national minorities aresettled by internal legislation. Georgia does not consider this rightgranted to national minorities as obliging the State to change existingnames of territorial units and considers it inappropriate to signfurther international treaties on the above-mentioned issue;

e) Georgia shares and agrees with the goals and the spirit of article 16of the Convention. At the same time this article shall not concernsettlement processes that may take place after resettlement of victimsof ecological or technical catastrophes on the territory of the country,and of persons living in zones considered dangerous for their life andhealth. In addition the above-mentioned article shall not concerntemporary or permanent settlement of refugees and forced displacedpersons;

f) In relation to article 18 of the Convention, Georgia declares thatthe protection of national minorities' rights is recognized by theConstitution, the legislation of Georgia, conventions, treaties andagreements to which Georgia has acceded and which recognize and protectthe rights of national minorities. Accordingly, Georgia recognizes therequirements envisaged by the Convention, but considers it inappropriateto sign further international treaties on the above-mentioned issue;

g) In relation to article 30 of the Convention, Georgia declares that itmay ensure full and guaranteed observance of the Convention's provisionson the whole territory of the country only after the recovering of theterritorial integrity of the state and the resolution of the Abkhaziaand former South Ossetia autonomous region conflicts. Georgia asks forthe assistance of the Council of Europe and its member states to enablethe full compliance with the spirit and the provisions of the Conventionin regards to the population of the Abkhazia and former South Ossetiaautonomous region.

3. The requests foreseen by point 2 of the present resolution form anintegral part of the decision of the Parliament of Georgia on theratification of the Convention for the Protection of NationalMinorities.

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